Awards

Case of the Years

2017 Patrol Case of the Year

Officer Mark Wilcox and K9 Dax, Kansas City KS Police Department

On May 9, 2017 shortly after 2200 hours, the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department was dispatched to the 1900 block of South Boeke St., Kansas City, Kansas to investigate a shooting. Upon arrival officers made contact with a male in his twenties that was suffering from a gunshot wound to his back. The male victim directed them to a nearby address where he said there were other shooting victims. Officers responded to that location and found three other individuals who had suffered fatal gunshot wounds and three young children that were left unharmed. The surviving gunshot victim, who officers made initial contact with, was able to identify the shooting suspect by name - Jason Tucker. Officers responded to the 2100 block of North 33rd Street to look for the suspect.
When officers arrived in area, the suspect's vehicle was located. Two shotguns and numerous additional shotgun shells were seen in the vehicle. When officers approached the house they could see three people on the front porch of the home. When they got closer, a male believed to be Jason Tucker fled the porch and headed toward the back yard of the house. Knowing the extreme severity of the crime and the high probability of the individual being armed, the officers did not chase the suspect into the dimly lit area. The first officers on the scene were quick to establish a perimeter of the area and request assistance from the Kansas City, Kansas Police Departments only canine team.

Officer Mark Wilcox and Canine Dax were off duty when they were requested to respond to the 2100 of North 33rd St.. They arrived at 2306 hours, and were given the description of the suspect who had fled the porch area. Officer Wilcox met with two cover officers who assisted him during the search of the area. After giving a series of verbal warnings for the suspect to surrender, there was no response. Canine Dax was given the command to search backyards in the immediate area. Dax began to show a change of breathing and body posture as they approached waist high grass that led to a four foot chain link fence. Officer Wilcox, believing they were closing in on the suspect's location, told the back-up officers what he was seeing in his dog and to be

prepared for contact with the suspect. At the fence Officer Wilcox gave additional warnings announcing his authority, what he wanted the suspect to do and what would happen if he refused to comply. After there was no response from the suspect, Canine Dax was lifted over the fence and given commands to find the suspect.

Immediately after putting Dax over the fence, Officer Wilcox heard yelling from about five feet on the other side of the fence in the tall grass. Canine Dax located the triple homicide suspect and had bit him on the upper right thigh area. Officer Wilcox warned the suspect not to move. The suspect continued to move and yell before slapping Canine Dax in the head. Dax released his bite on the right leg and then bit the suspect's left forearm. The suspect was looking at Canine Dax when Officer Wilcox heard him say, "I give up, dog!" Officer Wilcox and the search team climbed over the fence and cautiously approached the suspect. While Canine Dax was still biting the left forearm, Officer Wilcox lifted Dax off the bite to prevent further injury. The suspect was taken into custody without any additional use of force being applied. Medical treatment for the suspect's injuries was immediately obtained at the scene prior to being taken to the hospital for additional treatment.

Jason Tucker was charged in Wyandotte County, Kansas with three counts of capital murder, attempted burglary and violation of a protection order. At the time of this writing he is being held on $1 million dollar bond.

In August of 2016 the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department reduced the size of their canine unit from three teams to one. In the months that have followed Officer Wilcox and Canine Dax have had approximately seven successful patrol deployments. The deployment described above is typical of the effort Officer Wilcox and Canine Dax put forth to make the City of Kansas City, Kansas a safer place.

2017 Detection Case of the Year

Det. Ken Price and K9 Charlie, Los Angeles Sheriff's Dept., CA

On Sunday July 16th, 2017, at approx. 1000 hrs, a Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputy that was working the Domestic Highway Enforcement Team in the Gorman area observed a grey Dodge Nitro SUV traveling northbound Interstate 5. The Deputy observed a vehicle code violation and conducted a traffic stop. The driver and registered owner of the vehicle was unlicensed and consented to a search of the vehicle. Detective Price arrived on the scene with his K9 partner Charlie. Detective Price has Charlie do a sniff of the vehicle and noticed Charlie had a change of behavior and seemed to get very frustrated, as if could not get close enough to the source of what he was sniffing for, around the rear bumper and under where the spare tire sits. Detective Price let Charlie into the vehicle to sniff the interior. As Charlie was sniffing the back deck/storage area, he alerted to a hole in the floor where the spare tire crank goes. Detective Price searched this area and Charlie's alert lead to a discovery of a false compartment under the floor that contained 20 packages of Meth totaling approx 35 lbs.

Honorable Mention

2017 Runner up Patrol Case of the Year

Officer Michael Grisell and K9 Kobi, Lenexa Police Department, KS

On 10-24-2017 at 2159 hours, officers were dispatched to a residence reference a physical disturbance. Dispatch advised a male subject and his significant other (female party) were actively engaged in a physical disturbance. Dispatch advised over the radio that Med-Act would be staging due to the male subject having unknown injuries. Dispatch also advised there was a firearm involved in the disturbance and the two subjects were fighting over possession of the gun.

Officer Grisell decided to respond to the address to assist officers on this call. While he was driving to the call he heard officers say they had contact with the male subject outside of the residence and had secured the firearm. Officers advised the female subject came to the door and refused to come outside. The female subject went back inside the residence and upstairs to the bedroom/bathroom area. Officers stated they were waiting outside for additional units to arrive. The officers on scene also advised the male victim was advising there were numerous weapons upstairs to include knives and nun-chucks.

Officer Grisell arrived at 2212 hours and deployed his PSD Kobi. Officer Grisell had Kobi in a harness with a 30 foot leash attached to it. He responded to the front porch of the residence. and spoke with officers on scene. They advised they believed the female was upstairs and had locked herself in a bathroom that attached to the bedroom where the weapons were located. Due to the statements the victim was telling officers and the belief that an aggravated assault and a domestic battery had occurred Officer Grisell was going to have Kobi with the contact team inside the residence.

At 2216 hours, they made entry into the residence and went to the landing on the stairs near the bathroom. Officer Grisell started to give canine announcements from this location. During these announcements the female was yelling at officers to get out and come back with a warrant.

At this time Sergeant Harris took over commands and started to order the female out of the bathroom however she refused to come out. While Sergeant Harris was speaking with her he informed her that she was under arrest and she needed to surrender. During this time, she advised she was naked in the tub and was not coming out of the bathroom.

Officer Grisell again gave the female commands to come out of the bathroom with her hands up and told her she was under arrest. He asked the female if she was going to cooperate and there was no answer from her. At this time, they

decided to move from the stairs to the bedroom to gain a better angle towards the bathroom. Officer Grisell went inside the bedroom and was at a 45-degree angle from the door approximately 8-10 feet away from the door. From this location he could see in plain view several knives on top of a tall dresser. The top drawer of the dresser was pulled open and officers could see knives inside the drawer as well. On the bed officers could see in plain view an empty hand gun holster and a bullet.

From this location he continued to give the female commands to come out of the bathroom with her hands up and there was no response from her. Officer Grisell asked her if she had any other weapons in the bathroom with her and there was no response. Sergeant Harris continued to give announcements for the female to come out and told her if she did not she was going to get dog bit. During this time period the female stated that the dog was not going to bite her, and she was not going to come out. Several more announcements were given for her to come out or she was going to get dog bit and officers told her that we did not want her to get hurt.

Sergeant Harris approached the door and the female could be heard moving around in the bathroom. The female cracked the door open and Sergeant Harris ordered her out of the bathroom and would not let her close the door. Sergeant Harris continued to give commands to her and Officer Grisell told her to show them her hands and she was not complying. Sergeant Harris told her to grab the robe that was in plain view and ordered her out of the bathroom. She refused to come out and attempted to close the door. Sergeant Harris and Officer Womer went hands on with her in the doorway of the bathroom. The female was resisting arrest and actively struggling with the officers trying to close the door and get back into the bathroom.

Officer Grisell then told Officer Womer to get out of the way and he was sending the dog to bite her. Officer Grisell gave Kobi the bite command and he engaged the female biting her on the right arm in the forearm/elbow area. Officer Grisell then gave the female commands to get on the ground. She was refusing to comply with orders and continued to struggle with officers. The female did not yell or scream she just looked directly at the dog and continued to resist by shaking her right arm while the dog was biting her. Once the female was on the ground and taken into custody, Kobi was removed from the bite and Officer Grisell advised dispatch that a dog bite had taken place so the medical team outside could respond to treat her.

2017 Runner up Detection Case of the Year

Det. Steve Miller and K9 Rocky, Springfield MO Police Department

Throughout the summer of 2017, the Springfield Police Department's Narcotics Enforcement Team investigated a subject who was known for distributing large quantities of meth. Multiple Search Warrants were executed and countless man hours and surveillance were poured into this investigation.

On August 30th, 2017, through surveillance, the target was observed leaving a hotel and traveling out of the Springfield area. The target was followed to the Kansas City area where he was seen conducting a hand to hand transaction with another male at a truck stop. The target began his travels back to the Springfield area. Detectives maintained surveillance during the trip back to Springfield. The Missouri State Highway Patrol assisted by conducting a traffic stop on the target vehicle. The occupants of the vehicle refused consent to search the vehicle. Det. Miller deployed his PSD Rocky around the exterior of the vehicle. Rocky indicated on the passenger side door of the target car. Rocky was then deployed on the interior of the vehicle where he indicated on a black backpack that was in the floor board where the main target was sitting. 6.6 pounds of methamphetamine was located in that backpack belonging to the suspect.

Further investigation throughout this vehicle stop led to evidence linking the target to a source in the Kanas City area. They then used this evidence to assist the DEA in the Kansas City area with a wiretap to identify the source multiple targets and the main source of supply.This K9 seizure resulted in approximately 8 suspects tied up in the local conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine along with multiple indictments in the near future springing from the wiretap in the Kansas City area.The total seizures in reference to this case were 12 pounds of methamphetamine, 3 guns, $51,689, and a new 2017 Harley Davidson Motorcycle (paid in full with drug proceeds)

North Central Awards

On February 4, 2018, Deputy Ellefson arrested two subjects for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver-marijuana (More than 500 grams). At approximately 10:08 hours, Dep. Ellefson was sitting stationary near the on ramp to I-94 eastbound at exit 140. While sitting stationary, he noticed a pickup pass by eastbound that appeared to be traveling at a higher rate of speed than the posted 75 mph. As he closed in on the pickup, he observed it cross the lane divider without activating its left turn signal. The pickup was momentarily driving down the middle of the two driving lanes. The pickup then proceeded to quickly move to the right and return to the driving lane. Once the pickup came to a halt, Dep. Ellefson approached on the passenger side to explain the reason for the stop to the driver and the male passenger. The driver understood and stated that he was trying to take off his jacket and that's what caused him to cross the lane divider. Due to the frigid cold temperatures, Dep. Ellefson requested the driver to accompany him inside his patrol car so he could review his information. While he walked back towards the patrol car, he quickly looked inside the rear box portion through the topper windows. Dep. Ellefson observed what appeared to be multiple large cardboard boxes. Dep. Ellefson then proceeded to ask the driver if he had anything illegal inside the pickup. The driver indicated there wasn’t but appeared to be showing signs of nervousness. Once Dep. Ellefson completed the warning citation and checking the driver’s history, he proceeded to ask the driver if he had anything illegal inside the vehicle ranging from narcotics to firearms. The driver advised there was not. Dep. Ellefson then asked the driver if he would be willing to let him search the back portion of the pickup. The driver denied consent to search the vehicle. At this point, Dep. Ellefson explained to the driver that he was going to deploy his narcotics dog around the exterior of his pickup Once both subjects were secured inside his patrol car, he deployed K9 Gabber for an exterior sniff of the pickup. K9 Gabber immediately started to detail the front passenger door working counter clockwise around the pickup. Towards the front passenger bumper area, K9 Gabber head snapped to the left and started to work into the wind clockwise returning to the front passenger door. K9 Gabber proceeded to hop up towards the door handle area pointing his nose into the air. K9 Gabber was already having an odor response to the presence of an illegal narcotic he is trained in. K9 Gabber proceeded to work counter clockwise rounding the front bumper. K9 Gabber stopped near the front driver's tire and stuck his head into the wheel well taking long, deep breaths. K9 Gabber continued to the driver's side rear passenger door seam where the box connects to the cab. K9 Gabber proceeded to hop up near the seam with his nose going up. Again, K9 Gabber was on odor response. Once K9 Gabber returned his front paws to the ground, he immediately head snapped left and started to work clockwise again around to the front bumper. K9 Gabber proceeded to crawl under the front bumper trying to detail the lower carriage of the pickup. The change in behavior from K9 Gabber was showing Dep. Ellefson that he is on an odor response. At this point, Dep. Ellefson read both subjects their rights. Dep. Ellefson began a search of the pickup. Starting with the front passenger area, he quickly located a banker’s bag inside the center console that contained a large sum of currency. Dep. Ellefson then unlocked the topper, opening up the rear portion of the box and removed a black bag and opened it up. He immediately noticed multiple heat-sealed bags inside. The heat-sealed bag contained a green leafy substance and smelled like raw marijuana.

At approximately 14:00 hours, the search warrant was executed.

The search resulted in the following:

-Approximately 210 lbs. - raw marijuana

-Approximately 5 lbs. -THC wax/shatter

-Approximately 8 grams-Methamphetamine

-Approximately $2,400 in United States currency

-Multiple cell phones

Cpl. Ryan Sumner and K9 Ram, Lenexa Police Department, KS

On 02-12-2018 at approximately 0739 hours, officers were dispatched to 8813 Cottonwood St. in regard to an elderly male that was walking through back yards only wearing his underwear and a t-shirt. The temperature was 16 degrees and the wind chill was 8 degrees.

Upon arrival Corporal Gross learned that the elderly male was reported missing by his wife. The grandchildren observed their grandfather walking through the backyards to the north. Cpl. Sumner assisted one of the family members search the backyards and some out buildings. After he went inside and spoke to the family and was told the grandfather said he wanted to kill himself and drank a bottle of mouthwash before leaving.

Cpl. Sumner deployed police service dog, Ram. Ram picked up a track and tracked eastbound just to the north of 8732 Cottonwood St. crossing the street and then tracked eastbound passing 8709 Cottonwood St. Ram went just north of the wood line on the south side of W. 87th St. Pkwy. He started pulling into the wood line with his head high and his mouth closed. Cpl. Sumner could also see his breathing was quickened and was on human odor. They went a little further and Ram lost the scent, so he returned to the area where Ram had the scent and he again started pulling into the wood line. He pulled down to a large concrete drainage ditch where Cpl. Sumner observed an elderly male lying face down only wearing underwear and a t-shirt. His head was in the running water and the remainder of his body was on the ice.

Cpl. Sumner did not know the arrival time of a backing officer, so he tied Ram to a tree and slid down the ice to help the male. He had him sit up and took his shirt off once he woke him. Officer Barker gave me his coat and they put it on the male. Cpl. Sumner kept shaking parts of his body to keep his body warm. He had units bring a rope with them to slide him up the ice and out of the ditch, but the rope slid off, so Officer Barker was able to pull the subject up while Cpl. Sumner pushed. Once out of the ditch, officers carried him to an ambulance.

Sgt. Thom and K9 Dreamos, Stutsman County Sheriff's Office, ND

On January 21, 2018 while observing eastbound traffic near mile marker 254 Sgt. Thom observed a large pickup traveling below the posted speed limit. He pulled out of the median and caught up to the vehicle to observe the occupant’s behavior. He noted that there were two male occupants, and also noted that there was no visible luggage or cargo, which was peculiar for such a large vehicle that was a long distance from its place of registration.

The vehicle continued traveling east through Jamestown at a rate of 73mph. A faster moving vehicle passed myself and the suspect vehicle. The faster moving vehicle changed lanes in front of the suspect vehicle. The suspect vehicle failed to give way to the passing vehicle to create sufficient following distance creating a potential hazard, so Sgt. Thom activated his emergency lights and initiated a traffic stop. Sgt. Thom approached on the passenger side and noted the bed of the pickup was filled with black trash bags to the bottom of the topper. As he contacted the male driver and male passenger of the vehicle, he immediately noticed the overwhelming odor of raw marijuana emanating from the passenger compartment of the vehicle. After taking the driver to his patrol vehicle, he asked if they had any weapons with them today, or any illegal drugs. Sgt. Thom asked the driver for consent to search his vehicle to which he responded, “ya go ahead”, but then changed his mind and said no. After both subjects were secured he retrieved his canine partner Dreamos from his vehicle to conduct an exterior sniff of the vehicle. Dreamos was given his search command and allowed him to free sniff the vehicle on a retractable lead. Canine Dreamos went to the downwind (passenger) side and began sniffing near the passenger door. He worked back towards the rear of the vehicle and alerted to the presence of narcotics at the rear passenger side corner of the vehicle. Canine Dreamos head snapped to the corner of the vehicle and began breathing rapidly through a closed mouth focusing and lingering on the corner near the taillight. Dreamos stepped up on the rear bumper sniffing near the corner of the door to the topper. Canine Dreamos went into a position of final response by sitting and staring at what he believed to be the source

of the odor. Sgt. Thom returned Dreamos to his vehicle and returned to the suspect vehicle to conduct a probable cause search. Sgt. Thom opened the topper and cut open a garbage bag located in the bed of the vehicle and found multiple heat-sealed bags containing raw marijuana. In the passenger compartment, the back seat was folded up and he located additional garbage bags containing heat-sealed bags of raw marijuana. Sgt. Thom then placed both subjects under arrest for possession with intent to deliver marijuana. The contraband and the occupant’s property was removed from the vehicle.

The evidence was inventoried and the total recovered was 470 heat-sealed packages of raw marijuana totaling 476 pounds and 0.625 ounces of raw marijuana with packaging placed into evidence. The seized vehicle was placed in storage pending forfeiture.

Northwest Awards

Officer Brian Laas and K9 Rudy, Arvada Police Department, CO

On 013118 at approximately 1930 Hours Officer Laas responded to a domestic and restraining order violation at 7843 2 82 Wy. The suspect was restrained from being in contact with his ex-wife and had two warrants for his arrest including a felony burglary warrant. The suspect was reported to be armed with a gun and possibly a knife. He had also made statements about suicide by cop to his ex-wife. Prior to K9 Ofc. Laas arrival the suspect had fled, possibly on foot. An area check was conducted of the house and surrounding yards without locating him. A track was then conducted from the vehicle the suspect had fled from. The track lasted over one hour and went through several neighborhoods and a large golf course. The track then continued into a large apartment complex and past several buildings before canine Rudy lost the scent. The perimeter was collapsed and about 4 minutes after calling the track an RP had called stating someone matching the description of the suspect was hiding in the hallway of one of the buildings. This building was one building over from where the K9 track was lost. Ofc. Laas did respond back to this location with his cover officers and a perimeter officer as they were still on foot returning across the golf course to the original location. The perimeter officer did observe the suspect in the building and did challenge him. The suspect then ran into the stair well to the back side of the building trying to get out the back side of the building. Ofc. Laas did sent K9 Rudy for an apprehension and to prevent the suspect from getting out of the building or getting into another apartment. The suspect did get into a laundry room just before the K9 could engage him.

Once in the laundry Ofc. Laas did order the suspect to come out through a glass window of the door. The suspect refused to come out and did keep his right hand in his coat pocket, refusing orders to take his hands out. The glass window was broken by Ofc. Laas and orders were again given for him to come out and show his hands or he would be bit. He did raise his hand in the coat simulating a gun at the officer and then put it back down. The suspect did open the door and of the laundry room and came out with a knife in his hand charging Ofc. Laas and his K9 along with other officer’s present. This occurred on the stairs landing in between two floors in an area of about 8 ft by 8 ft. The suspect was then shot by cover officers and engaged by K9 Rudy on his hip. The suspect did fall to the ground at the feet of officer Laas and K9 Rudy. The suspect then raised up with the knife towards Ofc. Laas and Rudy and was shot by Ofc. Laas as he was pulling Rudy away from the knife.

Officer Kate Accord and K9 Archer, Mills Police Department, WY

On 03/24/2018 at approximately 1415 hours Mill PD Officer Acord and K9 Archer were requested by phone to respond for an exterior vehicle sniff. Officer Acord gave K9 Archer his detection command on the exterior of the vehicle on a green passenger car. K9 Archer began to sniff around the exterior of the car, he approached the driver's side door seam, and began alerting to the odor of narcotics/controlled substances.

Officer Acord and K9 Archer were then requested to respond to a second location for another vehicle sniff. Officer Acord deployed K9 Archer around a black SUV. Near the rear hatch, K9 Archer began alerting to the odor of narcotics/controlled substances. K9 Archer began sniffing vigorously underneath the vehicle, near the gas cap, as well as showing another head snap at the back hatch. Officer Acord watched him move back and forth along the rear hatch seam and then place his front legs on the rear bumper. K9 Archer indicated to the odor of arcotics/controlled substances. After conducting the sniff and pursuant to the positive alert, a search warrant was issued for the black SUV. Officer Acord was later informed a search revealed 1.53 lbs of presumptive methamphetamine were located in several vacuum sealed packages. Also located was approximately $15,000 in cash.

South Central Awards

Cpl. Garrett Pucket and K9 Luuk, Calcasieu Sheriff’s Office, LA

On March 24, 2018, Sr. Cpl. Garrett Puckett and K9 Luuk received a call in reference to a Burglary in process at 275 Hwy. 397 in Lake Charles, LA. Dispatch advised the suspect was kicking the glass doors at the front of the business. Upon Sr. Cpl. Puckett’s arrival, he spotted a male subject fitting the description of the suspect. Sr. Cpl. Puckett noticed a beer bottle in the suspect’s hand. Sr. Cpl. Puckett exited his unit and started giving commands for the suspect to get on the ground. The suspect walked around the front of the police unit and Sr. Cpl. Puckett advised him to stand in front of the unit. The suspect did not comply and raised the bottle in the air. Sr. Cpl. Puckett observed the suspect gaining ground towards him while he repeatedly gave commands which the suspect was not complying to. Sr. Cpl. Puckett felt the suspect may be on some type of narcotic due to the behavior the suspect was displaying. Sr. Cpl. Puckett removed K9 Luuk from his unit and continued giving the suspect commands to back up and stand in front of the police unit. The suspect stated he was going to bite the dogs head off as Sr. Cpl. Puckett was advising the suspect he was going to let the K9 loose if he did not back up and comply with his warnings. The suspect started walking to the front of the police unit and when Sr. Cpl. Puckett ordered the suspect to put his hands on the hood of the unit, the suspect became very irate and changed his body posture to a fighting stance balling his fist up and yelling at Sr. Cpl. Puckett. Sr. Cpl. Puckett advised the suspect again that he was going to release the dog if the suspect did not comply. The suspect was yelling out that he was the god damn boss and he was going to break Sr. Cpl. Puckett’s mother fucking ass as he was approaching toward Sr. Cpl. Puckett. Sr. Cpl. Puckett gave K9 Luuk the command to apprehend the suspect and K9 Luuk engaged the suspect’s upper thigh. The suspect started fighting K9 Luuk, so Sr. Cpl. Puckett deployed his Taser at the suspect’s back. The suspect continued fighting K9 Luuk while the Taser was cycling. The suspect finally went to his knees and Sr. Cpl. Puckett continued to give verbal warnings. Sr. Cpl. Puckett had to deploy another round of cycle from the Taser. The backup officer (Brian Haley) arrived and Sr. Cpl. Puckett advised Haley to move in for handcuffing. The suspect was not complying with the orders to give his hands. Sr. Cpl. Puckett holstered his Taser and joined in with Haley in order to get the suspect in handcuffs.

Once the handcuffs were on, Sr. Cpl. Puckett took control of K9 Luuk and released the bite. The suspect was treated at a nearby hospital for the bite and booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center for Burglary, Possession of CDS II, and resisting arrest.

Southwest Awards

West Coast Awards

Detective Ken Price and K9 Charlie, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Office, CA

On Sunday July 16th, 2017, at approx. 1000 hrs, a Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputy that was working the Domestic Highway Enforcement Team in the Gorman area observed a grey Dodge Nitro SUV traveling northbound Interstate 5. The Deputy observed a vehicle code violation and conducted a traffic stop. The driver and registered owner of the vehicle was unlicensed and consented to a search of the vehicle. Detective Price arrived on the scene with his K9 partner Charlie. Detective Price has Charlie do a sniff of the vehicle and noticed Charlie had a change of behavior and seemed to get very frustrated, as if could not get close enough to the source of what he was sniffing for, around the rear bumper and under where the spare tire sits. Detective Price let Charlie into the vehicle to sniff the interior. As Charlie was sniffing the back deck/storage area, he alerted to a hole in the floor where the spare tire crank goes. Detective Price searched this area and Charlie's alert lead to a discovery of a false compartment under the floor that contained 20 packages of Meth totaling approx 35 lbs.